Reset Life with Infinite Talents - Chapter 112

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Infinite Talent Reset Life Episode 112

 

 

32. Filming

 

 

H&M U.S.A NY.

Ben Wood looks at his secretary.

“Who started their activities again?”

Four years ago, Ben Wood, who led the H&M West Coast Branch, was the only one to achieve sales growth among all branches during the subprime mortgage crisis when the entire fashion industry fell into recession.

And in recognition of that achievement, he was promoted to the New York branch.

The New York branch, one of the five American branches, is the only one named after a city and the core branch with the greatest authority.

“Johann has started his activities.”

Johann, who played a major role in making Ben Wood the H&M New York Branch Manager.

The secretary holds out her phone to show Johann’s Instory account.

A selfie taken against some school background with the caption “Finally starting” catches Ben Wood’s eye.

“If you look at the bottom right corner here…”

“A camera.”

A tiny black object like a dot hanging at the edge of the photo.

If Ben Wood hadn’t heard his secretary’s words, he would have dismissed it as a stone or plastic trash.

“Whether it’s a photo shoot or drama filming, we can’t tell but…”

What’s important is that he’s resumed activities after four years.

Johann, who quit external activities after finding Norton I’s treasure and even refused to extend his H&M exclusive model contract because his height was ambiguous.

How many times had he tried to persuade him to reconsider back then?

“His appearance…”

The puppy who had exquisitely blended wolf and fox, whose eyes were even lovely, had returned as a man closer to a wolf.

“Has become even more enchanting.”

“His current height is also almost six feet.”

His physique goes without saying.

When clothed, he’s slim yet reliable, and when undressed, he has beastly muscles.

It’s the physique that women in their teens and twenties consider most ideal.

No, it was a physique that any woman would inevitably fall for.

“I don’t know if he used a filter, but his eye color has become more mysterious too.”

“It might feel that way because his eyes have become deeper.”

Eyes that are deeply set inward like those of a white person.

There seems to be no possibility of regression.

“What would you like to do?”

Currently, Ben Wood is responsible for New York, so even if he made Johann, whose main stage of activity is California, an exclusive model, it wouldn’t benefit his performance.

However, he can’t not make a move either.

“Zara will make a move.”

Not just Zara, but other companies like Uniqlo and Polo will also approach Johann.

If they remember what happened four years ago, that is.

“That can’t happen.”

Ben Wood, who answered reflexively, falls into thought.

“Let’s do this.”

At Ben Wood’s following instructions, the secretary smiled.

It was an excellent strategy.

 

* * *

 

“Wow. This is my first time wearing clothes provided by a sponsor.”

“They said it’s not a sponsor though?”

“Right. I heard they sent it because of Jefferson.”

Some high school in LA.

Everyone’s gaze turns toward Johann, who is talking on the phone in one corner.

“It’s been a while, Mr. Wood.”

-We both seem to have been busy.

Contact that became infrequent and then cut off after Ben Wood was promoted to the New York branch.

It could be said it’s been almost three years.

-Still, the painting you sent me is hanging in this office too, Johann!

“Haha! You can throw it away.”

-I couldn’t do that! It’s the third most cherished gift in the world!

The first was a letter from his wife, and the second was a sweater his daughter bought with her first paycheck.

“Wow, that’s an honor. Should I send you one more?”

-Ahem.

“Hahaha!”

The two share stories that have accumulated over time.

“I’ll wear the clothes well. Thank you.”

-Alright. Then have a good shoot, and let’s contact each other again next time.

Flinch!

Johann, who stiffened for a moment, chuckles.

“Yes, get home safely.”

Johann, who ended the call with Ben Wood, calls Andrew Pearson.

“Yes, General Manager. It seems they confirmed the signal we sent as expected.”

Ben Wood, who sent all clothing from the past two years in various sizes to Rocky Management just one hour after the photo was posted on Instory.

This was something Johann and Andrew Pearson had intended to maintain past loyalty, and Ben Wood had taken the bait just as they intended.

“At the end, he told me to have a good shoot.”

To his subtle probing, Johann had responded positively.

-Well done.

You have to give opportunities like this so there won’t be complaints later.

-Then I’ll remove all clothing sponsors.

This movie already has Rocky Management, Instory, and Quick Food as main sponsors, but it’s better to have a certain number of additional sponsors.

However, too many can have the opposite effect. The work’s direction could be swayed by them.

“Is there really a need for that?”

Sponsors and supporters invest large sums for one reason.

Brand exposure.

“I think it would be enough if just I and a few supporting actors wear them.”

-Hmm. Not bad. Understood.

“Please also check if Mark and Kenny might have sponsors.”

-CEO Chris Panning will handle the confirmation and coordination of that.

“Oh, that’s right.”

Honestly, this sponsor matter should also be something Chris Panning resolves, but it ended up like this.

“Got it. Then I’ll leave it to you.”

-Don’t worry. Then I hope you successfully complete your first shoot.

“Thank you.”

Johann, who ended the call with Andrew Pearson, picks up the clothes piled beside him and removes the plastic.

From now on, this H&M hoodie was Eric’s clothing.

 

“This scene will break the universal image imposed on Asian Students.”

As filming began in earnest, Matthew Payton spoke casually.

In America, Asian people are always targets of bullying and symbols of weakness.

He’s going to shatter that.

Boldly and cruelly.

The audience will probably be shocked by this scene and realize that Eric isn’t just some ordinary Asian guy.

“While also providing justification for Eric’s actions that follow later. Right?”

“Excellent.”

Matthew Payton smiles with satisfaction.

“But the problem here is…”

“Me?”

Johann looks puzzled at his subtle gaze.

“Ahem.”

He had seen Johann’s performance during the reading well.

He was the Eric he had expected, no, even better than that.

But practice and actual performance were different things.

“You know how to throw punches, right?”

“Uh… are you asking if I know how to fight?”

‘He’s really asking me this?’

“No matter how much you coordinate, there’s a big difference in batting form between someone who actually knows how to fight and someone who doesn’t…”

Johann, who seems refined as if he was raised with proper care by upper-class parents.

Though makeup has completely killed that feeling now, it’s too obvious he’s never been in a fight in his life.

A story that would have made Flash and his friends burst out laughing if they had heard it.

Johann chuckles to himself inwardly.

“Well, I’ll try my best.”

“No, it’s fine. As long as you swing fast, we can make it work somehow!”

“…Just don’t yell cut because you’re startled.”

Johann, somehow irritated, approaches the actor he’ll be filming scene number 5 with.

“Ahem. What’s the matter?”

Mad, a boy in his late teens who’s getting cold feet, forces himself to puff out his chest.

“I want to coordinate once more. We can’t make mistakes.”

He would be replaced by a stunt actor after the first strike, but if his reaction was slow, he could get seriously hurt.

“Hmm. That could definitely happen. He could get hurt even from the first strike.”

When Nelson nods, Mad’s face crumples.

Because this was no different from saying they would remove him from the role.

‘Remove me? From an 18 million dollar movie?’

This was the movie with the highest production budget among all the works he had appeared in so far.

“Don’t worry about it!”

Even if he got beaten to death, he absolutely had to appear in this film.

Johann scratched his cheek at his passionate gaze.

“Uh… then would you like to sign a waiver? That you won’t hold us responsible if you get hurt…”

“Yes! Let’s do that!”

“Oh? You said you’d sign it?”

“Huh?”

Johann twisted his lips while looking at the flustered boy.

‘You said you’d sign it?’

From what he heard, Mad had said a lot of things, both true and false.

It seemed okay to put some real emotion into this.

 

* * *

 

“Well, if the younger brother is an idiot, the older brother must be an idiot too!”

“Hahahaha!”

While bursting into loud laughter with his friends, the boy playing Mad steels himself inwardly.

‘Here it comes!’

That murderous look he saw during the reading.

It’s fine.

He’s seen it several times, so he’s adapted enough.

He thought that way until Johann’s lowered head lifted and he met those bleakly dead eyes.

‘Huh?’

His body freezes. His tongue stiffens, his legs are about to give out.

Primal fear that turns his mind pure white. His vision narrows and blurs, and every instinct screams at him to run.

Yet his body won’t move.

Even as Johann approaches.

Even as he can see the foot being lifted and extended in slow motion.

‘Ugh!’

He just freezes like a terrified prey animal.

And Johann kicked him in the stomach.

Thwack!

‘Gack?!’

Thud!

The boy playing Mad falls to his knees from the terrible pain piercing through his stomach.

“Cut!”

Matthew Payton’s panicked shout echoes through the film set.

“You can’t collapse there! Again!”

“We’re filming again! Everyone back to your positions…”

“Wait a minute!”

Everyone’s attention focuses on Johann’s shout.

Johann points to the boy playing Mad who still can’t get up.

“This person’s condition seems a bit strange!”

His foot had gone in quite deep.

More than he had expected.

He must have frozen from the killing intent and failed to pull his body back in time.

“Ugh.”

“Hey. Are you okay? Breathe, breathe!”

“Ahhh!”

As soon as Johann touches his back, the boy playing Mad clutches his stomach and rolls on the ground.

“Damn!”

“Bring the first aid kit!”

“Hey, are you alright?”

Filming was temporarily halted.

 

Fortunately, the boy playing Mad got up quickly.

However…

“Ugh.”

“Cut!”

Matthew Payton’s face crumples.

The staff members’ expressions aren’t very good either.

This is already the 10th NG.

A scene that should have passed quickly is dragging on.

‘He’s gotten scared.’

He’s become afraid of Johann.

Matthew Payton clicked his tongue and looked at the Assistant Director, who sighed and approached the Mad Role Boy, whispering in his ear.

The boy glanced at Johann, then bowed his head deeply and left the film set.

Johann hurriedly followed after him.

“Excuse me, wait a moment.”

“Wh-what is it?”

“You might have internal injuries, so please go to the hospital first. My manager will take you there.”

“N-no need! What hospital!”

“You got hurt because our timing was off, so you should naturally go to the hospital. You might have internal injuries…”

Johann looked at Rick Bottom, who was standing behind the staff members.

“Gasp!”

“Let’s go.”

“Y-yes…”

Rick Bottom’s build and appearance were too intimidating to resist.

Johann watched the boy walking away and snorted.

“Now he won’t be able to talk nonsense.”

People like that tend to blame others and hold grudges even when they’re the cause of the problem, and judging by his reaction, he was definitely planning to cause trouble.

It was good that he blocked it in advance.

‘Let’s never see him again.’

As Johann shook his head and turned around, a Stunt Actor was standing in the Mad Role Boy’s position.

“As expected…”

He was one of the few people among Nelson’s stunt actors who could handle dialogue acting. From the beginning, if they were going to use a stunt actor for the Mad role, this person would be the right choice.

“Haha, let’s go easy. Don’t mix in personal feelings like before.”

“I didn’t even mix in 10 percent personal feelings.”

This was a movie with an enormous investment.

That’s why the Mad Role Boy had tried to take the first hit without using a double.

Johann also hadn’t deliberately hurt the Mad Role Boy just out of emotion. While there might have been a tiny bit of personal feeling, he had approached the acting coldly.

In the end, the Mad Role Boy getting hurt could be seen as due to his carelessness.

“Oh. Still, kick gently. Your feet are weapons.”

“Just block well.”

Since his opponent was a stuntman, it seemed they wouldn’t need to cut in the middle like before.

“Crazy…”

“Ready? 3, 2, 1! Action!”

“…Well, if the younger brother is an idiot, the older brother must be an idiot too!”

Seeing Mad’s face looking up with an annoying smile, Johann kicked his stomach.

Thwack!

“Ugh!”

The Stunt Actor’s body bent over.

“Die.”

Johann kicked the face of the Stunt Actor who was crouched over holding his stomach once more.

Crack!

 

* * *

 

“Whoa!”

“Isn’t he dead?”

“Has he been in fights before?”

The angle of hitting a person was chilling.

This wasn’t the skill of someone who had only hit people once or twice.

“Cut!”

Matthew Payton gestured to Johann and monitoring began.

‘Oh.’

The seat next to the Manager that he couldn’t sit in during Grey’s Anatomy.

Johann’s bottom fidgeted as he watched himself being replayed on the small monitor.

Matthew Payton looked at him with a serious expression.

“Hmm. You don’t bully or hit kids at school, do you?”

“Haha. I’ll take that as meaning I acted well.”

“…Phew.”

Matthew Payton wiped his chest and finally looked at the monitor seriously.

‘He really hits well…’

It seemed Nelson had taught him well over the past month.

The punches and kicks were concise and heavy, hard to believe from just a 15-year-old.

Usually, teenage actors’ action scenes are awkward because they swing exaggeratedly wanting to look flashy, but this was as natural as if he had properly learned martial arts.

“To create this level of scene even with insufficient time… Thank you for your hard work, Manager Nelson.”

“…Well, let’s say that’s the case.”

Nelson made a displeased expression while looking at the back of Johann’s head.

‘He’s not really a problem child, is he?’

Johann who had achieved 100 percent of whatever he demanded.

That’s how they could create the current scene, but seeing him actually act made him have ominous suspicions.

“Okay! Let’s move to the next scene… Hm?”

Murmur murmur.

Chris Panning and some Middle-aged Men and Elderly Veterans entered the film set.

“It seems the investors have arrived.”

As the investors arrived at the pre-arranged time, Matthew Payton stood up.

‘Those people…’

The people who invested a whopping 12 million dollars out of the 18 million dollar production budget.

They were CEO Chris Panning’s long-time connections.

Thanks to them, Rocky Management could reduce the funds they had to execute.

“Haha. This is Manager Matthew Payton who’s holding the megaphone, and this is Johann Jefferson, one of the three protagonists of this movie!”

“Oh!”

“Wow. He has looks that remind me of my childhood?”

“This Student has very striking features! Even though he’s Asian, it’s understandable that Chris would cast him as the protagonist!”

“Hahaha!”

Johann also smiled and shook the hands that reached out for handshakes.

“Hoho, nice to meet you. Are you Korean by any chance?”

‘Hm? A delicious smell.’

It was also a smell he had encountered somewhere before.

Johann looked at the Asian Middle-aged Woman in Her 50s who had a familiar face and was giving off a spicy smell.

 

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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